Regulatory Guidance for the United Kingdom
This section of the Society’s website is intended to provide guidance to members of the Society and the public on the regulation of access to cultural heritage located on foreshore and seabed and the conducting of foreshore and seabed archaeological operations in the United Kingdom and its territorial waters.
This guidance is based upon liaison with the regulatory authorities. It is important to note that it is intended to aid the development of an understanding of regulatory frameworks that potentially affect those exploring cultural heritage on the foreshore and seabed and those conducting foreshore and underwater archaeology. While every care has been taken in compiling this guidance it is intended to be an educational tool and not to constitute comprehensive or definitive legal advice. To obtain such advice contact should always be made with the relevant regulatory body.
Finally, the Society wishes to draw attention to its Statement of Principles, which it believes should inform all archaeological operations and the United Kingdom’s adoption as policy of the Rules of the Annex to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage 2001. As United Kingdom policy the provisions of the Annex will inform and guide all regulatory decisions and therefore will be a material consideration when determining applications for licences, consents etc.
We hope you will find this resource to be informative and useful and would welcome any comments or observations you may wish to send us.
Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 - Marine licensing
Marine (Scotland) Act 2010
Historic Scotland are moving away from the use of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 towards the creation of Historic Marine Protected Areas. The timescales, implications and strategy for this are set out in two consultations and responses are invited on these by 27th January 2012.
Historic Scotland Consultations
Marine Conservation Zones
There are four regional working groups for the Marine Conservation Zones:
UNESCO Convention on The Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage 2001
The UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage 2001
- sets out basic principles for the protection of underwater cultural heritage;
- provides a detailed State cooperation system; and
- provides widely recognized practical Rules for the treatment and research of underwater cultural heritage.
For further information please click here
Although the United Kingdom have not ratified the Convention they have adopted as policy of the Rules of the Annex to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage 2001
UNESCO have also adopted a 'Code of Ethics for Diving on Submerged Archaeological Sites'
Further information on UK Statutory Legislation
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